2.5 dd given wrong Rx at Pharmacy - **UPDATE #22**

[mookie]

Just wanted to get a couple of opinions on this....

Yesterday, my dd, 2.5, was diagnosed with an ear infection. She was given Amoxocillin for treatment, which I took to Walgreens on our way home to fill. My DH then was planning to pick up the prescription on his way home from work. When he did, he noticed there were 2 bottles. He asked the pharmacy tech if that was correct, because she has had plenty of ear infections before, and we've never needed 2 seperate prescriptions. (Since he wasn't the one who dropped it off, he never saw the actual script.) The girl didn't check the medication, just kept stressing to him that there were 2 prescriptions. So, he just paid for them and came home. I was really confused by this, so when he came home, I checked the bottles.

Not only did our daughter have her amoxcocillin, but she also had a prescription for Xanax!! It was in her name, with our address and everything on the bottle. Obviously, I realized the mistake and quickly called the pharmacy. When I did, they asked for my last name, and when I gave it to them, they said "oh, that should have gone to Tiffany." What? Who is Tiffany? We have a pretty unusual name, and I know that there aren't any others around here with the same last name as us. Anyway, the tech just blew it off, and asked me if I could bring the bottle back. No apology or nothing.

I have not yet brought the bottle in, as I am planning on doing it tonight after DH gets home. At first the mixup didn't really bother me, I know mistakes can be made. But I have talked to a few friends and family about this, and even though I am planning on talking to a manager when I go to drop it off, they think that it shouldn't end there, and that I should take it a step higher, to make sure this doesn't happen again.

I guess I am really lucky that I caught the mistake myself. God only knows what would have happened if I had not been home and DH had just given it to her thinking it was part of her prescribed Rx.

Just looking for some opinions. I don't want to make waves if needed, but I have a lot of people telling me that I need to address this more firmly. Any thoughts?

 

[Aidensmom]

Xanax is a controlled substance, and is often sold illegally on the street. I would mention it to the manager so he/she is aware if only because of that. I probably would not go to a higher level though. I don't know the laws, but it seems it could cause a problem for the pharmacy if it had happened to get into the wrong hands....like given mistakenly to someone who turned around and sold it on the street.

(And it is great you really looked at what you were giving your daughter before giving it to her!)

 

[ziggystardust]

You def. need to say something. Maybe even call Walgreens corporate and tell them your experience and don't forget to mention the less than stellar employee.

A lot of people rely on Pharmacies and pharmacists to catch the errors and to give the right prescription. I know too many people that probably would have just taken that w/o even looking at it.

 

[Tigger_Magic]

I'd probably talk to the manager and the lead pharmacist. It'd be hard to believe this was a clerical error. In our state the pharmacist must initial every printed prescription drug label to indicate they reviewed it and it is correct. This is a serious mistake, but since it was caught I'd just address it with the store.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

wow That is a severe breakdown in control.

I have no idea what should be done. I know there are a couple of pharmacists here though. If you don't get an answer, I'd call your Pediatrician and ask what they think.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

oh and honestly - I'd hold onto that bottle until you get some good answers.

 

[mtblujeans]

I agree with everyone else! You have to say something....and maybe show them the bottle! This Tech is not taking this seriously enough...what else is she up to??

 

[allie&mattsmom]

Oh boy, that is a HUGE mistake for them to make. And then to just blow it off. I don't know what I'd do. Maybe call the corporate office, at least talk to the managing Pharmacist. Wow, do let us know what you end up doing.

 

[Keggy]

My husband works in a large mail order specialty pharmacy. Unfortunately, (not saying it is right) the wrong prescription goes out to the patient - a lot. He guesstimates once per day. We actually had a conversation about this today at lunch. He is really frustrated that there is no consequence for this type of thing.


Kelly

 

[chris1gill]

This is more serious than you know. Xanax is a controlled substance and you weren't supposed to be receiving it What if you had given this to your daughter? I can only imagine what giving it to a child would do? You already contacted the pharmacy & did not receive an appropriate response... I think I'd contact the insurance commissioner in your state, maybe they would have a suggestion... this is a really serious mistake!

 

[ElizaB39]

This actually happened to my neighbor, EXCEPT that they actually administered the drug to their son who got very sick from it. They did not catch the error themselves. They gave an adult dose for a 3 or 4 year old. They ended up suing the pharmacy for doctor costs and etc. and they were awared a small amount over that (less than $10,000.00) which went into an education trust. I don't remember all the details because it was over 10 years ago, but this is a SERIOUS mistake, they need to make sure that they address the procedures and etc.

 

[diz_princess]

I was going to CVS to get my medicine for my son filled. I would question them on end about everything and they would totally get annoyed with me! I wasn't asking any crazy questions, just can this be taken with food, what reaction can I expect stuff that I felt should be gone over. You do sign your name saying that they've gone over the stuff with you. 9 out of 10 times I could tell they were just pulling answers out just to statisfy me. I wanted to yell at them to open up the PDR and go over it with me. (Granted I could get a PDR but it was the principle behind it.) They just don't get it that they are responsible for the meds they are given out. YOU CAN KILL SOMEONE!
I haven't had a reason to go back there, nor will I. There is a small pharmacy around the corner. It is only a phamarcy so I hope to get more knowledgeable and caring staff filling our meds.
I am glad to hear your daughter is fine and I would call corporate offices and complain. Especially that someone mentioned it's a drug sold on the black market.
good luck!

 

[Scutapipig]

My husband's prescription was filled incorrectly at our local Walgreens. The pills were pink, just like always, but instead of a teardrop shape, they were a triangular shape. The letters on the pills did not match the letters on the written description on the label. I immediately returned the bottle directly to the pharmacist and she verified it was the wrong pill even though the description on the label was the accurate medication.

We were refunded our money, and received the correct pills/prescription for free.

 

[kpm76]

This is a serious matter and I would address it with the manager. However, I would not take it to another level. I'm not sure what you would accomplish by doing so. However, I also believe that the patient or in your case, the parent, has a responsibility to read the RX label and make sure it's the correct script. I'm certainly not accusing you of being remiss, you caught the error and thankfully for your daughter's sake you were paying attention. Unfortunately we live in a society that looks to legal/financial remedies to mistakes that in some cases are a result of a lack of personal responsibility. Good for you for paying attention and definitely bring it up with the management.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I agree it is a serious mistake.

I don't even understand how the mistake was made. If she had the correct prescription, from where did the other prescription materialize? What was the dosage? Strange.

I question the tech's reply also. If you are certain that there are no one else in the area with your last name, something sounds really fishy.

With all the loose ends that don't add up, I'd go higher. And as someone mentioned I'd hold onto the bottle and bring it with me to report it.

 

[C.Ann]

I don't even understand how the mistake was made. If she had the correct prescription, from where did the other prescription materialize? What was the dosage? Strange.

I question the tech's reply also. If you are certain that there are no one else in the area with your last name, something sounds really fishy.

With all the loose ends that don't add up, I'd go higher. And as someone mentioned I'd hold onto the bottle and bring it with me to report it.

-------------------------

Call me cynical, but I agree that things don't "add up".. Could it be that the tech did this intentionally - knowing it would be returned - and intends to keep this controlled substance for him or herself? Records would show it went out to a "patient" so there would be no questions as to why the pills were missing..

I'd skip the tech and go right to the manager..

 

[momof3disneyholics]

I'd definately hold onto the bottle.

 

[mookie]

Wow - thanks so much for all of the replies! It's pretty much right on target with what I was thinking...

I think since a lot of you said to hang on to the bottle, I'm thinking about calling the pharmacy manager first, instead of just going to the pharmacy. I know they want their medication back, but at the same time, I don't want it to just fall out of my hands, back into theirs, and then have this swept under the rug. I think I'm going to see how the managing pharmicist handles the situation. If it's all good, then I'll drop the bottle off tonight.

Trust me, I'm not looking for any legal or monetary action...I agree with kpm76 that it is our responsibility to check and double check those things in case of instances like this. I just don't want this blown off, though, either, especially because it is a controlled substance.

BTW - Just out of curiosity, I called Pfizer, the maker of Xanax, to see what would have happened had I given it to our dd. They were very concerned that this happened, and took my name and phone number and asked me to call them back with how the pharmacy handled it, which I found interesting. (BTW, the effects in a child that young aren't truly accurate, since it was never clinically tested for a child that young, but an overdosage would have most likely occured, and she would have gotten a fever, vomited, etc. The rep said it would have been very noticable if she would have ingested any, especially since it was an adult dosage that was prescribed.)

Anyway, I'll definitely post an update once I have one. Thanks again!

 

[indigoxtreme]

I agree I think the Tech that filled the bottle needs to be checked out for drug use or for stealing medications and selling them. This sound fishy to me. Since your hubby signed for them the Tech can get away with it and say that it went to a patient. I would call manager and since they cannot resale the medication I would stand there until it was destroyed (ie flushed down the toliet or sink). That why no one can sell it or take it.

 

[lsyorke]

Ask the store for a print out of ALL medications that you're daughter has had in the past. This sounds like someone is trying to get Xanax and is charging it to any account to hide it. This NEEDS to be investigated. Do NOT just bring the bottle back to the Pharmacy. Call Walgreens corporate headquarters and explain what happened and that you will be persuing this. An unexplained prescription for Xanax is not an "oversight". There are to many controls for a pharmacist to follow for this to not be intentional.